Exploring Autobiographical Narratives - Essay Example

? Autobiographies Introduction This is an essay exploring autobiographical narratives. It illustrates how share common genre in meeting the authors’ objectives. Autobiographical writings are forms of introspections. This is where authors write about their past while there are not free from emotions. They reveal characters’ thoughts, intentions, and emotions. In this process, authors are able to capture the attention of readers, and at the same time, the authors are able to deliver the message in the targeted angle (Bates 6). Thesis statement Through this strategy, authors clearly demonstrate their evolution. At the same time they, are able to communicate aspects such as their environments, among others. In autobiographies, the self-now illustrates the person he or she is as a result of the past occurrences. It is a genre that hardly losses taste among audiences. The article discusses David Masumoto’s “Harvest Son” and Pico Iyer’s “Eat, Memory: Our Lady of Lawson”. These are autobiographies which have a number of similarities and difference. The essay summarizes the stories and illustrates the similarities and differences to describe their relations. An analysis of David’s, “Harvest Son” David is one of the most skillful writers in relation to autobiography. In the book “Harvest Son,” he illustrates how one can save his orchard. It was of old fashion, but his efforts fashioned it with a new brand. The entire novel revolves around renewing a family farm. He meets this objective after a great harvest of juicy peaches among others. In prose, David explains how he learnt to prune vines; he also learned the skills of surviving a storm. This was because it was a difficult to cope with old farmers, who claimed to have knowledge in different sectors. Their ideas were out of date, but their position in the community facilitated perpetuation of such ideologies. He grew up in his Buddhist community where he slowly rose to leadership. He also shares his current life vividly. Readers can clearly depict how it feels to struggle all day to make a living. There are instances that attract readers such as that where he illustrates his grandmother’s joy after his visit. This is a sign of strong bonds among family members. Joy encompasses him as a result of the continuing abundant harvest. This helps him flourish in his grape growth community. From the book, it is evident that Masumoto holds on what matters, other than the prevailing pressures. Throughout the book, he illustrates his expertise by transporting the audience to different periods; he combines the post book world and the current world to show the agricultural state of Japan and America. The author’s stories also discuss the culture and the traditions of the two regions. The author also explains the process of harvesting, pruning, and other lessons regarding nurturing vines. A vivid comparison is evident between the two regions in reference to the past and current vine growing tactics. He also touches on his migration for Japan to rural America. This was in the aim of helping his father in his farming practices as well as building his family. He had difficulties in tendering 60 acres of grapes, and 20 acres of peaches. He explains how he disliked working with organizations such as American-Japanese agricultural farms; this was because his intention was to build a strong family and not commitments in developing organizations. Instances such as selling of the Old Buddhist Temple to give way to farming are an illustration of how people should value farming. The story ends when the author settles down to raise his family. He thanks all participants who made life complete while he worked in the old vineyards. Analysis of “Our Lady of Lawson” by Pico Iyer Pico Iyer develops casual ties of affection to the Japanese natives while living abroad. This is because Japanese regard living in their country without taking their food as a heresy. His behavior is that of an alien since all the others gobble down dried fish (Pico 23). He familiarizes himself with stores in Japan that are extremely convenient in terms of the services offered. The convenience store elaborates the contentious issues in Japan which include a synthetic and soulless lifestyle which marks the end of tradition, family, community and homogenized future where people compete for “slow food.” The fact that one can find different cultures of the world in Japan makes it adorable. After a gangster mistreats Pico, he receives care from a lady at a cash register who offers him coupon. This makes him like Japan. It is not easy to understand Japan but having lived there, they have come to understand the hearts of familiarity, sense of neighborhood, and kindness in the convenience store (Pico 24). The stores have a strong influence on the people. When Pico writes an article which predicts the end of stores, the article goes out of market before it comes out. This had worried people in the neighborhood, and they did not know what to do. This illustrates the level of gratitude expressed to a convenience store. Pico clearly illustrates the importance of Mrs. Hirata as a convenience store manager in the light of foreigners who involve in food consumption and production. The store has variety or products ranging from chocolate bars, ice creams, tea-flavored bars among others. Convenience stores also have whisky, eggs, and pornography hence making it a center where one cannot live without visiting. She saves Pico from her tears when she says she fears for her children. She is considerate to other people’s situation and ensures that they do not suffer. As a store manager, she facilitates delivery of food to people since it is easily available in the store. Both books have the same setting. Their books clearly show their life experiences. They show how their pasts have helped in molding them to the current beings. Regardless of the authors having different origins, Japan turns out to be a central nation that brings them together. It also forms a basis where one can list both the similarities and differences. From the readings, it is evident that we can learn how each author grew and developed. We can easily trace the source of their ideas in reference to their initial environments (Pico 11). There is a significant difference between lives in the long run in these two parties. They excommunicate Pico because of his behavior of going against the norms of Japan. This is in reference to his eating habits among other others. As time moves on, he adjusts to the environment and finds mingling with Japanese being entertaining. He later familiarizes himself with activities such as store keeping. This is similar to what happens to Masumoto, he also familiarizes himself with the activities taking place in the new environment such as growing vines, peaches, and wheat. Another notable difference between the two autobiographies is that Masumoto woks hard to keep in touch with his family (Bates 26). Conclusion Masumoto’s experience with farmers such as Santoro Tanaka’s facilitates his hard work and responsibility. This is because he encountered with responsible parties in the course of his growth and development. On the other hand, Mrs. Hirata plays a significant role in equipping Pico with control and leadership spirit. Her kindness and courteous heartedness have strongly influenced and changed the life of Pica. He learns the qualities of a responsible and caring person. From the stories, we find that both authors appreciate their surroundings. They also have an excellent opportunity to venture into new places and learn a lot from different people and cultures. Both authors derive benefits from their experience that are tremendously helpful in their everyday lives back to their country. David learns the process of nurturing vines which include pruning and harvesting after migrating from America to Japan. He is, therefore, productive when he goes back to his family since he can help them in farming practices. The difficulties he experienced when tendering many acres of grapes and peaches hardened and enlightened him. Pico, on the other hand, learns the importance of being kind to other people in the society. After a gangster mistreats him, a lady at the cash register helps him by giving him a coupon. This makes him think critically on the importance of developing a sense of neighborhood and being kind to other people. Both authors, therefore, learn essential qualities from their experience in Japan. Works cited Bates, Stuart. Inside Out: An Introduction to Autobiography. New York: Sheridan House, 1937. Pico, Iyer. Eat, Memory: Our Lady of Lawson. New York: The New York Times, 2005. Masumoto, David. Masumoto Family Farm. Retrieved on 1st February 2012. Available at: Read More